Conveyer



Aug. l2, 1930. E. B. TOLMAN, JR

CONVEYER Filed Jan. 30, 19.29

patented Aug* 12,` 1930 STATES ancien. n. frommen, mf,

0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CONVEYER application inea January so, ieee.' seria uo. aceras.

'lhenvention relatesto pneumaticconveyers and more particularly it relates to means for controllingthe discharge ofmaterial from such conveyers into storage tanks or the like and e one object of the invention is the production the material on the gate is meanwhile continuing active regardless of whether the discharge gate is closed 'or is in apen position to permit the discharge of ina- 4terial.

The device of my invention includes a discharge gate of the swing type, by which is meant, a gate, operable by gravity to swing from open to closed positionvorto Iswing from closed to open position. As heretofore used in connection with pneumatic conveyers such gates have been so swung or mounted that their weight normally causes them to hang closedand to be opened whenv the pressure of eater than the atmospheric pressure, the ex auster or pump being operated continuously so that the gate during a period of operation is o cned only by the pressure'of the centaine material against the gate and `loses again before the material'is all discharged. Such closing oc'- curs when the atmospheric pressure exceeds the thrust of the material remainin undischarged. Under such conditions t e gate necessarily closes against the dow ofma rial and if the material is nely comminute no articular dii'culty is experienced in movlng the gate to a substantially duid .tight closed position. However, where the conveyed material is colarse or lumpy, as, for ex-A ample ashes containing small 'clinkers or other hard material, such lumps or clinkers are frequently lodged and held between the i' closing gate and the end of the outlet and as a result, the device does not operate satisfactorily. -In my mvention, the gate always closes after the receivin chamber is completel empty and there ore cannot be held open y such lumps or large particles.

The invention provides for operating the exhauster or pump intermittently and not continuously and also provides for a gate so mounted that its weight keeps it open except when the exhauster or pump is active. The initial operation of the exhauster starts an inwardly travelling current of air through the discharge'outlet. The air current swings the gate to closed position. When the gate is closed operation of the exhauster lowers the pressure inthe receiving chamber to the point necessary to effectively move material. The gate is held in closed position entirely -by atmospheric pressure and swings open by its own weight only when the exhauster or pump becomesinactive. A timer is providedl for regulating the periods of operation and te cessation of operation ofthe exhauster or pump. Such periods are predetermined as to length and frequency to cause the conveyer toj become inactive and the gate `to open before the weight of the accumulated material becomes sucient to force the gate open against the atmospheric pressure. The gate remains open a suiiicient length ofv time, before the exhauster or pump again starts operation, to permit the receiving chamber to be completely emptied of accumulated material. Since the gate never closes until the receiving chamber is emptied, a feature of the invention. is the elimination of any possibility that it will close on cinders or, other chunks of material and thereby adapts the device for the satisfactoryy discharge of materials such as ashes containin cinders .as well as other material of irregulr degrees of fineness or coarseness.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a discharge gate for'a conveyer of the V,class described which is so mounted as ormally -remain open except when `the conveyer is in operation andheld in closed position by atmospheric pressure during the entire period of operation of the conveyer. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyer construction wherein `the ,conveyer is intermittently active and inactive for predetermined intervals in combination with a dischar e gate which hangs open by gravity when t e conveyer is inactive and which closes only when the conveying mechanism becomes active and wherein the period of active operation is 'so short that the weight of the material accumulated is never suiicient to open the gate against atmospheric pressure and wherein the inactive period continues long enough to permit the complete discharge of all material contained in the receiving chamber before resumption of operation and the resultant closing of the gate.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts: there is shown an elevational and partial section view through a conveyer emodying the device of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates a conveyer operable to move material such as ashes, shavings and the like from a distance and to discharge the same into a storage bin' 11 with which the conveyer is connected. The storage bin 11 is provided with a vent 12. A conveying pipe 13 connects a receiving chamber 14 with a supply of the material to be' conveyed. The pipe 13- pens directly into .the receiving chamber 14,' the wallsland top portion of which ar referably of hard metal to withstand the kabrasion due to the impact of the discharged material. A separating chamber 15 is postioned immediately below the receiving chamber 14 and ta ers inwardly at its bottom end portion to orm a rustum of a cone.

An exhaust pipe 16 connects the separating chamber 15 with an exhauster 18 through an L 17 The exhauster 18 is of the usual Venturi tube construction into which a pressure fluid supply lineA 19 discharges its contents through nozzles (not shown). An operating timer 2O is suitably connected with the supply line 19 to intermittently open and close the line to the flow of Huid.

Material is discharged from the separatin chamber 15 into the storage bin 11 throug an opening 21 in the roof of the bin. A- frame 26 supports the separating chamber 15 and encloses the roof opening 21. Angles 27 connect the frame 26 to the bottom. portion of the separating chamber 15 and to the roof of the storage bm 11.

A downwardly extending discharge member 28 rests yupon the frame 26 and provides a. direct support for the chamber 15. The discharge. member 28 extends downwardly and to one side, as shown,forming an inclined chute or outlet 33 having its lower end 'terminating in a substantially vertical lane.

lug 29 on the exterior of the disc arge member 28 provides a support from which a closure member or gate 32 is suspended by a link 31. The link 31 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the lug 29 and atwits lower end to a lug 30 formed on the gate or closure member 32. The link 31 and -the closure member 32 actsl similarly to a pendulum. The lug 29 is so positioned that the weight 0f the suspended gate 32 normally maintains the gate in open position and spaced slightly away from the end of the outlet member 33. The lug 30 is preferably positioned slightly above the center of gravity of the gate 32 and thereby causes the gate to take and maintain a substantially vertical position when open. The gate 32 operates as a valve which is fluid controlled in closin and while it remains closed and is gravity controlled in its movement to and retention in open position.

In operation the initial action of the exhauster 18 starts a current of air movlng 1nwardly through the inclined'outlet 33. The

ate 32 and its suspended parts are actuated gy such induced air currents to swlng to the rlght as observed in the drawing and to bring the gate into contact with the lower vertically extending boundary end of the outlet member 33. -The conduit 33 is thereby closed to further flow of air therethrough. The gate 32 is held in this closed p0sit1on y atmospheric pressure during the operation ofthe exhauster 18. As the operation of the exhauster 18 continues, the pressure in the receiving chamber 15 is lowered suliiciently to cause material to be carried through the pipe 13. and discharged into the receiving 'chamber 14. The. discharged material falls by gravity and is deposited in the outlet member 33 and the discharge member 28. The workin pressure in the receiving chamber 14 and(I he se arating chamber` 15 during the operatidn o the exhauster 18 is suiciently below atmospheric pressure that the gate 32 is held in closed position against the thrust occasioned b the weight of thematerial deposited in t e member 28.

The timer 20, or any other device suitably o erable to control the line 19, is arranged to c ose the line after a predetermined period of operation Aand thereby stops the exhauster 18. The period of operation is made sufficiently short -that only a limited amount of material accumulates, this amount being insuliicient in wei ht to force the gate 32 to open when the ex auster'is operating. Upon stoppling the exhauster 18 the pressure in the c ambers 14 and 15 becomes atmospheric, theY gate 32 is then swung outwardl in endulum like fashion by its own weig t an by the thrust of the material contained in the members 28 and 33, thereb permitting all of the material tobe discharged into the storage bin 11. The pendulum likemounting of the gate 32- permits the gate to swing out of the path of the discharged material and to return to its normal suspended osition adjacent to the end of the condult 33 as soon `as the materiall is discharged. The timer 20.then* again starts the exhauste r 18 by openin "the line 19 but only after a predetermined period of inactivlt of suliicient duration to permit the accum ated material to be discharged througl the conduit 33.

Thus it will be seen, at I have provided a discharge gate or valve mechanism and apparatus of the kind described, which 1s operable by fluid pressure to be moved to and retained in Aclosed position and is gravity operated in .moving to and being-retained in open position.

Having thus described my invention it is obvious vthat various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exactfform, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure vey material to said chamber, the initial operation of said means actuating the closure member to close said outlet. y

2. In a device of the kind described, a chamber having a discharge outlet, a closure member, a link from which said closure member is pivotally suspended adjacent to andspaced apart from-the dischar end of thel outlet, exhauster means opera le to convey material to said chamber. the initial operation of said means actuating the closure mem- A ber to close said outlet and the continued operationy of said means retaining said member in closedv osition.

3. In a evice of the kinddescribed, a chamber having a dischar e outlet, a closure member, a link form whic said closure member is suspended in pendulum fashion adjacent the discharge end of the outlet and meaps intermittently operable to create sub-atmospheric pressure in said chamber, the initial operation of said means creating air currents actuating said closure member to its closed 'tion.

4. In a device of the kind descri d, a chamberhaving a discharge outlet, a closure member swinably mounted adjacent the dis-i charge en of the outlet and means intermittently operable to create sub-atmospheric pressure in said chamber, the initial operation of 'said means creating air currents actuatin said closure Amember to closed position, sai

closure member being held in closed position l solely bythe continued operation of said means. v

. 5. In a device of the kind described' a cham-pv ber having a discharge outlet, a closure mem-f. ber s bl mounted adjacent the' dias charge en o the conduit, a. conveying 'conles 

